Junior Buckeye and Gahanna native part of NHL’s “Hockey is for Everyone” celebration

COLUMBUS, Ohio As part of the National Hockey League’s month-long “Hockey is for Everyone” celebration, Michele Tonnessen of the Ohio State women’s hockey team will line up with the Columbus Blue Jackets during the national anthem Monday night at Nationwide Arena before they face the Dallas Stars.

The junior forward also will do an interview during the first intermission with Bill Davidge of the Blue Jacket’s radio broadcast.

Tonnessen, a native of Gahanna, Ohio, is being honored as the only central Ohio native currently on the Buckeye women’s hockey team. She is a product of Gahanna Lincoln High School and also played with the Ohio Flames.

Tonnessen grew up watching the Ohio State women’s hockey team, now in its 10th season, and dreamed of someday wearing the Scarlet and Gray sweater. She notes that the best thing about being a Buckeye is “being able to represent my home state of Ohio.”